Page 98 of Surrender to Love

“We love you. Tomorrow’s your day and we want it to be as perfect as you two are for each other. Girl, just wait and see,” she says.

Seconds later, they return rolling in two beautiful, matching, monogrammed luggage sets bearing our initials.

“I swear!” I gasp in awe.

“We can’t have you going to Antigua with single people’s luggage,” Giselle says and we all laugh at her corniness. “What? I was trying to be clever.”

“It was clever, girl,” I say, still laughing, then I get serious. I love them so much and I’m blessed beyond measure to have them in my life. “Not all sisters are born from the same mother or father. Some are gifted to us by life because our souls simply recognize each other. That’s us. You girls are not just my best friends; you are the sisters of my heart and one of the greatest blessings in my life. I really love y’all,” I say before my emotions overtake me.

“Ahh. We love you too,” Reya utters.

“Love you, boo,” Alex says.

“I love you too,” Giselle adds before the three of them embrace me.

TWENTY-FOUR

Tre planned everything tonight: drinks, food, gambling, and strippers. My brothers, the guys at the shop, and my DP brothers Kassir and Suleem, started the night at Deuce’s. After good food and drinks, we took a Sprinter to the Hard Knox Casino and Resort here in Crescent Falls. I won almost three grand playing Blackjack and Ace’s ass hit a fifteen G jackpot on a damn machine. Everybody else did okay except Deuce. That nigga down a few stacks. Right now, we are upstairs in Roulette, the strip club in the resort. I’m surrounded by a gang of pretty females, titties, and ass and bored as fuck. The only lady on my mind is mine and I’m ready to bounce.

“Can I get you another drink?” the half-naked server asks.

“Nah. This is my last one.”

“Last one?” Tre asks with a frown over the music. “Nah, get him another one. Shit, me too. The same,” he says while shaking his glass. When she walks off, he turns to me. “Nigga, it’s your last night as a single man. You need to drink, enjoy all this ass in your face, and loosen the hell up.”

“I’m straight, bruh, but after this drink, I’m out. It’s after midnight. I can’t be looking jacked up at my own fucking wedding. I ’preciate tonight. Real shit, thank you. Y’all stay though.”

“Oh, trust. I am. You got your key to the suite?” he asks because he reserved the four-bedroom Royal Suite for tonight.

“I’m going to head to the cabin,” I tell him and he laughs.

“Which one, nigga?” he asks.

“To see my baby, shit,” I admit. Technically, it’s after midnight and our wedding day. Our week apart is over and I need to feel her body next to mine.

“At least one of my married brothers is staying out tonight,” he says, then nods at Ace. Quintus left about an hour ago. He’s probably made his way to Mireya like I’m about to make my way to Kyrah.

“Give my drink to one of them. I’m out,” I say, then stand. After dapping him, I do the same to everyone else then walk out of the strip club, ordering my iDrive X. By the time I’m in the lobby, my ride pulls up five minutes later.

“Do you have a pass to get back to the cabins?” the driver asks once I’m in the back seat.

“Yeah, I got it,” I tell him and he pulls off.

Twenty-four minutes later, I show my ID and pass and the security gate allows us to enter. As the driver makes his way to the cabin, I text Kyrah.

Me: U still up?

Baby: Yes, in the bed thinking about you actually.

Me: I’m thinking about you too. U know what today is right?

Baby: Of course. I’m marrying you in 12 hours.

Me: And I’m seeing u in 5 minutes. The week is up.

She doesn’t text back. Instead, she calls.

“What’s up, baby?” I answer.